Prayer

After we returned from camping this weekend I saw that I had a message on my answering machine.  It was my mom telling me that my brother, who is a California Highway Patrol, was sent to Oakland, Ca to help with the riots that have been going on there because of the Trayvon Martin protests.

It took me back in time to more than 20 years ago when my dad, who was also a California Highway Patrol, got the call to go to LA.  Some of you may remember the riots going on there after the Rodney King case.  We lived hours away from LA but the riots were so bad they had to call in law enforcement from around the state I think.
My dad's job was to guard the firetrucks so they could do their job.  Up until my dad was sent there we had been watching the news covering the riots.  It was pretty scary stuff, lots of voilence.  As you can imagine we were all pretty scared and worried about my dad going. 
Before he left we had a family prayer.  After our prayer I remember we stood in the stairwell to say goodbye to him.  After the door closed behind him we were still sitting in the stairwell, some of us crying, our hearts troubled.  In that moment we offered another prayer of pleading for my dad's safety and the safety of others trying to bring order back to the city.  My dad remained safe and returned home to us.

When I got the message about my brother I immediately started praying for his safety and have been ever since.  Sometimes vocally and more often in my mind.   I pray for his family and those working with him.  I know prayer is powerful and that Heavenly Father listens and watches over us.  I have faith in that.  Please keep my brother and others like him trying to help in your prayers.  Thanks!